Complaint Review: Cottman Transmission - New Orleans Louisiana

Cottman Transmission picked up my car with their "FREE" towing service. I needed a complete reseal on my tran. They promised to look at it that day and let me know a an estimate of work to be done and price. "You'll have it back in 2 days" Is what I was told regarding the time. 4 days went by, never heard from them once. I called and spoke to Randy and he said he hadn't looked at it yet, but would soon. 3 more days, nothing. On Friday I called again and they still hadn't even LOOKED at the car. Because of my persistant calling they finally decided to look at the car. I was then told that it would cost $ 485.00 for the reseal.

I told them to go ahead with the job. They then told me that it would be started on "sometime" next week. I was outraged, and I called the owner, Frank. To put it nicely and very brief, Frank was EXTREMLY rude. We had a long conversation about my problems with my service at Cottman thus far, and I explained to him my problems with my treatment. He offered no apology for his company's behavior and said that I was "Really becoming a pain."

I have never in my life been treated so poorly by a business.

I wish the story was over at that point, but it has only begun.

Sure enough we get a call about 45 min after my (complaint) conversation with Frank saying that they were just looking at the car and the re- seal of the transmission won't work....the car needs a new transmission! How odd that that development came only after I voiced my concerns to the owner. How much for a rebuilt transmission? Just under $2,000 plus tax. That's for a "Cottman Rebuilt Transmission" I press the issue, stating that I only have enough money to cover the re-seal that he originally quoted me, and that I would have to wait on getting anything else. I only need to drive the car for a few weeks so I can save up the rest of the money I wil need to get a new tran, "No WAY"....he says " that absolutley will not work, it has to have a new transmission. A re seal would do nothing at this point. The car wouldn't even drive"

I was outraged at this point with their service and attempt to scam me into a $ 2,000 repair. I then tell him no thanks for now and I will be by to pick up the car. Well that will cost you

$ 390.00 plus the towing fee of $ 45.00. ( To have NOTHING done to the car.....just to take it home will be $ 390.00) After MUCH aguing and a trip down there, he agreed to only charge the towing fee. Rusty stated that the ONLY reason he was doing ( taking off the $ 390.00) that was so nothing bad got back to my mechanic, Kevin, who had recommended Cottman.

After getting the car back I called around to check the price of a rebuilt trans. EVERY LAST PLACE was significantly less expensive then Cottman. I was getting quotes from $ 500 - 900.00 but NEVER even close to their price. The car was then taken to 3 places for other opinions on the reseal job. All said that the car needed a re seal and that's all. NO NEW TRANSMISSION NECESSARY AT ALL! They all laughed and were amazed when we told them that Cottman said we needed a new one. In less then 24 hours, the car was towed to a wonderful transmission specialist

( NOT ANOTHER COTTMAN!!) and was completly resealed and fixed for under $ 350.00. I was't without the car for more than a day! In conclusion, the car did not need a new transmission. Cottman decided I "needed" a new transmission only after I called to complain about their service. What a SCAM. Their company motto is "Expect the best, you deserve it!" Well clearly my mistake was that I DID expect the best, because as a customer, I do deserve it. I have NEVER had such dissatisfaction or such problems with a company in my life. I will NEVER use Cottman Transmission again and will let my friends and family know my horrible experience there. I hate to think of any other innocent customers that were taken advantage of by Cottman. I hope this letter can save someone outthere from being SCAMMED by an awful company!